I’ve written more than one story about Jen

– of the two Jens, actually, before and after. This is another event in the life of the Jen before her change.

A colony of ants appeared at their back doorstep. Jen, being a natural patron of all “little people,” fed them the crumbs from the table and also, I would bet, manufactured crumbs for them, and the colony flourished. Ho didn’t share her enthusiasm for their new neighbors and said they had to go. Jen’s arguments had no effect on him other than to cause him, finally, to agree to wait until the next day for his mass assassinations.

Jen sat on the step by them and exhorted the ants (the ants’ spirit?) to move elsewhere so they wouldn’t be destroyed.